INDIA v NEW ZEALAND 1955-56

India wound up the high-scoring series by breaking more records and gaining an overwhelming victory. Mankad and Roy, the Indian opening batsmen, mastered the New Zealand bowlers on an easy-paced pitch, and they were not parted until after lunch on the second day. They made 413, a record for Test cricket, surpassing 359 made by Hutton and Washbrook for England against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1948-49. Mankad scored 231, and passed the Indian individual Test record of 223 which he and Umrigar each made earlier in the series. India's 537 for three set up a new record total for that country, beating 498 for four declared in the first Test. The first-wicket partnership was also the best by an Indian pair in first class cricket, exceeding 293 by V. M. Merchant and Mankad for the Indians against Sussex at Hove in 1946. New Zealand, by steady bowling and keen fielding, managed to restrict the scoring rate for long spells, and the opening stand lasted for nearly eight hours. Mankad batted eight and three-quarter hours, hitting twenty-one 4's. Gupte, with leg-breaks, and Jasu Patel, an off-break bowler playing his first Test of the series, worried New Zealand, who despite cautious batting, followed-on 328 behind. Again spin upset them, this time Mankad, with left-arm slows, proving an effective partner to Gupte.